Tag: MARAKKAR

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Bhim, Marakkar nominated for Best Feature Film at Oscars 2022

Directed by Priyadarshan, ‘Marakkar’ is one of the most expensive films in the history of Malayalam cinema…reports Asian Lite News

Two Indian films — the controversial Tamil film ‘Jai Bhim’ starring Suriya and Lijomol Jose and Priyadarshan’s Malayalam period drama ‘Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham’ (Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea), with Mohanlal playing the titular character — are on the list of 276 movies eligible for this year’s Academy Awards.

The voting for the Oscar nominations is set to begin on Thursday, January 27, and it will continue until Tuesday, February 1. The announcement limits the eligibility year to 10 months. Last year, the Academy had extended it until February 28, 2021, because of the pandemic.

All of the presumed Oscar contenders, reports ‘Variety’, are on the list. These include ‘Being the Ricardos’ (Amazon Studios), ‘Belfast’ (Focus Features), ‘CODA’ (Apple Original Films), ‘Dune’ (Warner Bros), ‘Encanto’ (Walt Disney Pictures), ‘House of Gucci’ (MGM/United Artists), ‘The Power of the Dog’ (Netflix), ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ (Paramount Pictures), ‘Spencer’ (Neon/Topic Studios), ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (Sony Pictures) and ‘West Side Story’ (20th Century Studios).

Some of the international features from the Oscar shortlist are also eligible for best picture, in addition to the best international feature category, such as Japan’s much-awarded ‘Drive My Car’, Italy’s ‘The Hand of God’, Iran’s ‘A Hero’ and Norway’s ‘The Worst Person in the World’.

Directed by Priyadarshan, ‘Marakkar’ is one of the most expensive films in the history of Malayalam cinema. It narrates the epic tale of Kunjali Marakkar IV, a Malabar Sea lord and his epic battles against the Portuguese. The movie had won three National Awards — Best Feature Film, Best Special Effects and Best Costume Design.

‘Jai Bhim’, which raised the hackles of the PMK, a political party in Tamil Nadu that represents mainly the Vanniyar community, is based on a true incident in 1993, involving a case fought by former Madras High Court Justice K. Chandru, when he was an advocate. Behind him in this legal battle was Sengeni’s wife, Rajakannu.

The only other film to make the cut from South Asia is Bhutan’s ‘Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom’, a 2019 film directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji. It had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.

The film was selected as the Bhutanese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, but later disqualified. It was resubmitted as Bhutan’s entry for the 2022 Oscars and was shortlisted for the awards.

Nominations for the 94th Academy Awards, according to ‘Variety’, will be announced on Tuesday, February 8. The ceremony is scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 27, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will be televised on the American network ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

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Bollywood Kerala Lite Blogs

‘Marakkar’ hits big screen, enters in 100 crore club before release

Reacting to the film, Mohanlal said let this be a new beginning and become a new strength for the industry and wished that all come and see the film in the theatres…reports Asian Lite News.

At long last, Malayalam epic ‘Marakkar: The Lion of Arabian Sea’ hit the screens on Thursday and fans turned delirious seeing superstar Mohanlal coming in person to his film.

Despite pouring rain, his fans waited in the rain for long to have a glimpse, finally got their wish fulfilled when he arrived with his wife Suchitra and producer of the film Antony Perumbavoor at a theatre here close to midnight.

The police had a tough time escorting the star inside the theatre and soon the film began.

This film has been waiting for a release since March last year, but amid the Covid pandemic, it had to be postponed and finally it was released in 4,100 screens across the world.

Reacting to the film, Mohanlal said let this be a new beginning and become a new strength for the industry and wished that all come and see the film in the theatres.

Speaking to IANS veteran actor Siddiq who has a fairly good role in the film said it was a great feeling to see the first show and that too with Mohanlal.

“The general impression that we all got was, it has come out extremely well and Malayalam cinema has reached newer heights. We have proved that we are second to none and the highlight has been the superlative performance of Mohanlal. Definitely this film is a feather in the cap for our industry,” said Siddiq.

Directed by Priyadarshan, this film before the release was selected as the best feature film for 2019, besides the veteran director’s young son — Siddarath Priyadarshan fresh from studying special effects in the US also won his first national award for the best special effects.

Another winner for the film was Sujith Sudhakar who won the National Award for the best costume designer.

The magnum opus tells the tale of Kunhali Marakkar, the famous naval chief of the Zamorin of Calicut, often known for organising the first naval defence of the Indian coast.

Mohanlal, known for his flexibility and adaptability to any character, plays the title role of Marakkar.

The star cast includes Manju Warrier, besides actors from south India and Bollywood and four British actors and one Chinese actor.

Priyadarshan has stated that this is the outcome of his four decades in the film industry. It took three years for the film to commence shooting after the first day he conceived it.

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Bollywood Lite Blogs

‘Marakkar’ prepares for ‘ROYAL’ OTT release

Mohanlal-starrer ‘Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea’ directed by Priyadarshan will soon be shown on OTT as the epic film has been reportedly bought by Prime Video at a price between Rs 90 crore and 100 crores.

Unconfirmed reports attributed to the producer of the movie, Antony Perumbavoor, stated that this was one of the most costly purchases by Amazon in India.

The movie, according to industry sources is one of the costliest productions ever in Malayalam cinema with a budget of Rs 100 crore.

If the movie is bought by Amazon for Rs 90 crore to 100 crores, then the satellite rights of the movie would fetch good profit for the producer.

Antony Perumbavoor had on Friday said that he had tried his level best to show the movie on the big screen but even after several rounds of meetings with theatre owners, a final decision could not be reached and hence he and his team had decided to sell the movie on OTT.

Kerala film producers association head C. Sureshkumar had said that the producers of the movie and the association had held several rounds of meetings with the film exhibitors but no solution could be arrived at.

Film exhibitors association head Anchal Jayakumar had said, “We have held discussions and we had promised Rs 15 crore and 500 screens for the producer but they insist on more and we cannot afford that. Theatres will remain an indispensable part of the Malayalam film industry and we cannot be cowed down by such actions.”

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